There may be no better way to learn how to program than by dissecting real, representative examples written in your language of choice. Ruby by Example analyzes a series of Ruby scripts, examining how the code works, explaining the concepts it illustrates, and showing how to modify it to suit your needs. Baird's examples demonstrate key features of the language (such as inheritance, encapsulation, higher-order functions, and recursion), while simultaneously solving difficult problems (such as validating XML, creating a bilingual program, and creating command-line interfaces). Each chapter builds upon the previous, and each key concept is highlighted in the margin to make it easier for you to navigate the book. You'll learn how to: Use the interactive Ruby shell (irb) to learn key features of the language Extend Ruby using RubyGems, the Ruby package manager Create numerical utilities, as well as utilities that process and analyze HTML/XML Implement purely functional and metaprogram

Are you spending valuable time on work a well-trained monkey could do? If so, Wicked Cool Ruby Scripts will teach you how to automate repetitive tasks using Ruby, one of the most powerful and easy-to-use programming languages around. Wicked Cool Ruby Scripts provides 58 scripts that offer quick solutions to problems like system administration, manipulating images, and managing a website. After getting your feet wet creating simple scripts to automate tasks like file compression and decompression, you ll learn how to create powerful web crawlers, security scripts, and full-fledged libraries and applications, as well as how to: Rename files, disable processes, change permissions, and modify users Manipulate strings, encrypt files, and sort efficiently Validate web links, check for orphan files, and generate forms Mass edit photos, extract image information, and create thumbnails Parse CSV files and scrape links, images, and pages from the Web And as a nod to our security friends, y

Rails is a robust, flexible development platform that lets you build complex websites quickly. Major websites like GitHub, Hulu, and Twitter have run Rails under the hood, and if you know just enough HTML and CSS to be dangerous, Rails Crash Course will teach you to harness Rails for your own projects and create web applications that are fast, stable, and secure. In Part I, you ll learn Ruby and Rails fundamentals and then dive straight into models, controllers, views, and deployment. As you work through the basics, you ll learn how to: Craft persistent models with Active Record Build view templates with Embedded Ruby Use Git to roll back to previous versions of your code base Deploy applications to Heroku In Part II, you ll take your skills to the next level as you build a social networking app with more advanced Ruby tools, such as modules and metaprogramming, and advanced data modeling techniques within Rails s Active Record. You ll learn how to: Implement an authentication sy